The Washington critic., 1887-08-29
pREsIDENTIAL JOURNEYS

Martin Van Buren aud General Cny-
lor Down In Tennessee.
Said Judge James Bell OF Nashville
TO n reporter of the american, referring
to the prospective visit of the Presi.
dent: MY idea Is that we should give a
great barbecue at Belle Meade or some
other place, and treat the President aud
his party to tue "hog aud hominy"
diet of Tennessee. Make II q general
barbecue, State holiday, 50 that all
the people may go out, get a iiue
dinner and sec the President of the
United States. suppose he will enjoy
a~visit to the Hermitage, aud that this
trip will be included in the programme
A finance committee should be selected
and no expense spared to make this
tribute TO the country's President one
which he and we will always re-
member" "Do you know" con.
tlnued Judge Bell, "that re,
member distinctly the visit to Nash.
vile Of President Van Buren, in 1888,
and that of President Zachary Taylor
in 1S40? | do remember them both
very distinctly. VanBuren was Dem.
ocrat, and there were not more than
five or six hundred Democrats in the
county at that time. He came on a
visit of much Importance. At the
Hermitage, twelve miles out, was man
Tho made Presidents, General Andrew
ackson, then in retirement. 1t was
near the close of Van Buren's admlnis
trotfnn and fhn Man VArIynr n,
consult the sage of Tennessee as to the
political future. Van Buren, came
down the Cumberland River In one Of
the magnificent river steamers of that
day, and, with much pomp and eclat
was escorted TO the old Nashville Inn,
where he was received by ex President
Jackson and given grand reception
by the people. He Immediately, how.
ever, went to the Hermitage, where he
remained several days in close conhne
ment with Old Hickory. His visit
concluded, he rode horseback to Gal
latin. where he embarked on n
stage on his homeward journey.
My recollection of the reception &C.
corded President Taylor is very vivid.
lie came In 1S40, think, few
months only after his election and
only short while before his death.
Taylor's star had ascended most rap
idly and the people were anxious to see
him. The story of his wonderful
Mexican campaign had made him the
hero of the hour, the idol of the peo
pie, and his step was easy from con.
queror of Mexico to the Presidency of
the United States. He, like Van
Buren,. came by boat, but far greater
demonstration on the part Of the
people awaited him. All of the mill
tary companies In this part of the
State, the Masons, Odd Fellows,
schools and citizens turned out to bid
him welcome and do him honor. One
thousand men of the old volunteer
Fire Department headed the procession
These were all in uniform, which con,
sisted of red shirts and white stock
pants. These uniforms were often
very handsome. The beaux of the
city belonged TO the department api
they vied with one another IN the eX
celience of their appearance. We wore
the red shirts, open In front, over very
handsome rutiled and iluted white
shirts. | remember to have paid p2t
for my white shirt the day of the Tay
lor demonstration, and the same pric,
for my white pants. Women filled
doors and windows of houses and the
streets were garlanded and strewn with
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